Printer Friendly Version - RTM Debates Resolution on Tweed-New Haven Expansion

Wanda Bubriski, a member of citizen-based Save Our Shoreline, speaks to the RTM during discussion on the resolution at the Jan. 11 meeting. Listening in at the table in the audience are First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove and Town Clerk Lisa Arpin. Image Capture from BCTV/Facebook

At its Jan. 11 meeting, Branford’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM) debated, and ultimately did not approve, along party lines, a non-binding resolution regarding the proposed Tweed-New Haven Airport expansion.

In a 13-8 roll call vote, attending RTM members voted not to approve a proposed amendment to the resolution; followed by a majority voice vote against approving the original resolution. The roll call vote had 13 Republican votes against and 8 Democratic votes in favor. The voice vote included one abstention by RTM member Peter Hentschel (D, District 2).

The proposed airport expansion includes constructing a 4-to-6 gate terminal on the East Haven side of the airport, and extending the 5,600-foot runway to 6,635 feet.

The resolution on the agenda was submitted to the RTM by resident Sandra Reiners on Dec. 14, 2022. It laid out 3 key items seeking RTM support. Reiners is also a past RTM member, last serving in 2011. During Jan. 11 RTM discussion on Reiners’ resolution, an amended resolution was brought to the floor by Adrian Bonenberger (D, District 3). The language of each resolution can be viewed here.

Both resolutions sought to have the RTM show it endorsed a call to conduct a full Environmental Impact Study (EIS) of the proposed expansion; to register Branford’s concerns regarding increased air traffic impacting area community members and environments in the direct flight path; and to have a Branford “voice” in Tweed New Haven Airport Authority (TNHAA) board decisions impacting the community.

Bonenberger said the amended resolution “...took a strongly worded, oppositional piece that was coming from a pretty partisan perspective [and] we made a good faith effort to make it non-partisan – we stripped that out.”

With regard to creating a bi-partisan resolution, RTM minority leader Tracy Everson (D, District 5) noted, “...we know that there are those that are in favor it, and believe there will be economic benefits to come. Others enjoy the convenience of hopping on a plane nearby to reach a vacation destination. As elected representatives of the 28,000 people in Branford, this amended resolution simply asks that Branford have a seat at the table when matters directly impacting our town and our residents as important as this could be are being discussed.”

Regarding the EIS, “...out of an abundance of caution, it seems a reasonable request,” Everson continued. “I think it’s our duty as elected representatives to advocate for this resolution. The goal is to make sure our families, friends and neighbors are protected; especially those who live beneath the flight paths. We also need to protect our precious coastline.”

Given some speeches made among Democratic RTM members rising in support of the amendment, Majority Leader Ray Ingraham (R, District 5), expressed some surprise, noting the amended copy “...was just told to us tonight, to make a change to what was originally proposed. I did get some indications from former Representative Reiners that pieces might be taken out of the resolution, but not be wholly rewritten.”

“Our current administration has been a part of this. We do have a person from Branford that is on the Tweed board, from Short Beach. I think he represents the SCRCOG [so] there is a representative in Branford on that board,” said Ingraham.

With regard to the non-binding resolution, Ingraham said, “I was against the main resolution, and I’m against having these resolutions like this come; that we have no teeth in.

As later confirmed for the RTM by First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, White is 1 of 2 SCRCOG members on the board, and was appointed during Cosgrove’s term as SCRCOG chair.

At the TNHAA link on the City of New Haven website, White’s current board term is listed as expired as of June 30, 2021. However, board members remain until their replacements are seated; as noted by chair John Picard in the minutes of a special TNHAA meeting of July 13, 2022. White’s professional affiliation, Bart Realty (West Haven) appears beside his name on the board roster. White was in attendance and participated in the Dec. 21, 2022 TNHAA meeting, according to meeting minutes. White was absent from the August, 2022 meeting where the board voted, 9-4, to approve a 43-year lease and development agreement between TNHAA and The HVNLL, aka airport operations and management company Avports (VA).

The RTM also heard from 4 Branford citizens on the need to support the resolution. The citizens also discussed current health, environmental and safety impacts due to increased flight traffic, and more expected from the proposed expansion.

Wanda Bubriski, a member citizen-based Save Our Shoreline (SOS), noted SOS spearheaded a December petition delivered to the FAA with 1,600 signatures, a majority from Branford. The petition urged the FAA to conduct an EIS, in accordance with the National Environmental Impact Protection Act. SOS has also been holding Community Conversations to inform residents about issues; the most recent was held Jan. 12 at the Blackstone Library.

The current Tweed expansion Environmental Assessment (EA) that will soon be considered by the FAA is being conducted by a private consulting firm hired by the airport, Bubriski noted. By contrast, she said, the EIS “...is objective and involves other organizations and agencies and not a private consulting firm.”

“The public must be involved in establishing the scope of the EIS [and] local, regional, state and federal representatives must all be engaged in the full EIS process,“ said Bubriski. “And that element is not being addressed by this environmental assessment.“

“Since we have the First Selectman here, and he is a member of SCRCOG, I wonder if he would share with us how he has been involved, and what his position is on the proposed expansion at Tweed,” she asked.

In his response, Cosgrove clarified the airport authority is a political subdivision created by the state, and that, during his time as a past chair of SCRCOG, White was appointed to the TNHAA.

Cosgrove said he hears the noise of planes over his own house in the 6th District, “...so I understand the impact. But I also look at what our role is, and what authority do we have in the say.”

With regard to the need for an EIS, Cosgrove said his belief in the process was underscored by a December, 2022, comment made by CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dyke.

“This is part of the process. It is not an Environmental Assessment in lieu of an Environmental Impact Statement,” said Cosgrove. “This is the first part of the process. Then, I believe, a draft is submitted; and from that there is a public comment period, and there is also a period where the public can state [and] it is reviewed by the FAA.”

Cosgrove also noted someone had stated earlier in the meeting that, “...one of the triggers for a full EIS is significant runway expansion. So that is part of their own process. From my understanding from those involved, and also the state agency statement, we haven’t got to that part yet.”

Addressing the RTM, Cosgrove said to consider not supporting the resolution does not mean “...voting ‘no’ to an EIS.”

“That’s a mischaracterization of what really is before you. That is part of the process, and we haven’t got to that, from my understanding of the process.”

“There’s not a local approval process There is not a vote that is going to come before a town body for this process. There is a defined process that they follow, not only with this airport, but with every airport across the country. We’re not going to change that, as much as we may be in favor of the airport or not in favor of it.”

Everson also pressed Cosgrove, “...can you tell the residents of Branford, as the elected person who runs this town, how you personally feel about the proposed expansion of Tweed? Are you concerned that it’s going to impact our town?”

“I trust the process, in terms of ensuring that the environmental impact is addressed, or at the minimum, mitigated,” responded Cosgrove, in part. “As my role as first selectman I do not have a say. So let’s be clear about that...I also try in my life not to be a hypocrite. So, I have flown out of Tweed; I probably will be in the future. So I’m not going to sit here and tell somebody, ‘I’m going to fight, this should never happen, it shouldn’t take place;’ and then go on a flight.”

“As with any project, the environmental impact is looked at; we should consider it,” Cosgrove also noted. “On a local level, we do that; on a state level they do have a process; and on the federal level, as stated by DEEP, there is a very thorough process that they follow.”

With regard to hearing earlier comments that night stating the RTM represents all the people of Branford, Cosgrove said, “I can tell you that I heard from a number of Branford residents who utilize the service currently and look forward to having greater service. I can also tell you that I heard from a number of businesses.”

“When I went and visited with a number of those businesses [we] want to attract here, and do what we have to do to have a viable hub here in Branford; a number of them have said we need to improve our transportation to this region. And part of that is Tweed,” said Cosgrove. “That’s what is said, many times...so from that point, yes, I’ve heard [that] this would be a positive. But again, I’m not diminishing the other concerns...I hear those, too; as somebody that represents everybody. But to be clear...there is a process that the authority and applicant needs to follow.”

One of the citizens who spoke earlier to the RTM, Margaret Wheeler, then returned to the floor to give her input on the process.

“Just to clarify -- [following] the Environmental Assessment: the FAA will then declare it a ‘Finding of No Significance,’ which would mean everything goes through. I’ve studied many EA documents in the past. They’re looking for alternatives. So it’s like they’ll have their first alternative or second alternative. And it gives the public time to ask some very serious questions, which they have to answer. So we want to ask questions,” said Wheeler.

Wheeler said questions need to be raised such as those concerning water and air monitoring, and the “heat island” created by installing 1500 parking spaces. She said citizens have been having a say by attending meetings in New Haven and asking “critical questions.”

“You can ask critical questions, too. This is not just the FAA stamp or not. The authority has nothing to do with saying what to do, neither does the management company, Avports,” said Wheeler. “The FAA and the community are coming together. That’s federal law. The Council of Environmental Quality – CEQ -- is meant to say that we, the community, should have a say and be involved in the process of anything that’s large and that will change our quality of the life and our environment.”

With regard to the resolution before the RTM, “...this is not against the airport,” said Wheeler. “This is [to] give us all time so we can study the data. And by you endorsing that and saying this important, [then] we can also ask our [state] representatives to go to the state to ask to be on the authority board...that might be our next step here. So these are things that are possible. So saying that we have no say -- I beg to disagree.”

During final RTM discussion and questions, Bonenberger commented, “I think part of it is we’re operating in different informational paradigms here. As I said earlier, it’s disappointing to me; it feels like there’s a partisan element to this, and there really shouldn’t be. The way this amendment was designed was to be something that empowered Branford as a community, as a voting entity; and that's what the intent was. And I could tell you, because I helped draft it. And that’s all we want out of this. I urge you to vote for it. I understand if you don’t.”

Following a brief recess, the RTM reconvened and voted 13-8 against the resolution amendment, followed by a majority voice vote against the original resolution.

The Jan. 11 Branford RTM meeting was live-streamed and recorded by BCTV and can be viewed in its entirety at BCTV on Facebook.